Adapting a zero-waste lifestyle is difficult considering the amount of waste produced on average in your kitchen. However, the kitchen should be the first place you should make changes if you want to commit to a zero-waste lifestyle. From using eco-bags in place of plastic bags to buying reusable equipment, here are a few budget-friendly changes you can make to your kitchen to help the environment.

 

Replacing Tissues

When cleaning up a mess in the kitchen, you would usually reach for tissues and single-use paper towels. Replacing paper towels and tissues with cloth napkins can help you cut down on a bunch of paper waste that would usually go to the bin and go to waste.

Pure linen napkins are machine washable, more absorbent, and way less wasteful than single-use napkins. Cloth napkins are also customizable, and you can get ones that fit your kitchen’s aesthetic.

Reusable Bags

Zip-lock bags are incredibly convenient to have in the kitchen if not because they take up to a thousand years to decompose in a landfill. If you want to store your product correctly, reusable bags are the way to go. Reusable eco-bags made out of organic cotton can last you years and are much more durable than paper bags, and they are machine washable.

Make sure you don’t forget to bring them as an alternative to the plastic bags provided by grocery stores.

 

Reusable Straws

According to the National Park Service, disposable straws are nearly impossible to recycle. If you can’t live without using a straw or if it’s an actual necessity, consider swapping to reusable metal straws. A stainless steel set of reusable straws costs a little under $15, and cheaper ones are on the market. Save marine life one straw at a time by switching to reusable straws.

 

Silicone Mats

If you bake a lot, you probably use hundreds of pieces of parchment paper every month. If all you need is something to keep your food from sticking to the baking sheet, a reusable silicone mat can do it just as well as parchment or oil.

Your wallet will thank you if you get a set of different-sized silicone mats from Amazon or your local grocery store. If you want to get a wider variety of silicone mats for your pans, KPKitchen comes with a set of five if you love using the oven for baking food.

 

Reusable Coffee Filters

Coffee filters may be made out of paper, but it’s still incredibly wasteful and resource-intensive because of how often people buy the product. Investing in a french press is an excellent alternative for your coffee filter problem, but some people aren’t keen on switching up their coffee brewing method. Getting organic cotton reusable coffee filters is an easy fix for your filter waste problem.

Organic coffee filters only require quick rinsing and drying between each use, and it works the same way as traditional coffee filters. To ensure that your coffee filters are sanitary, submerge them in boiling water every two weeks to remove oils.

 

Replace Aluminum Foil & Plastic Wrap With Beeswax

Aluminum foil and plastic wrap are awful for the environment, and most households have these as a way to store food. If you want a zero-waste alternative to these, beeswax wrap is a perfect choice.

Getting rid of cling wrap is one step closer to having a plastic-free kitchen and household. Beeswax paper can be molded around any shape and keep produce and cheeses fresh for longer. Beeswax wrap is washable and reusable, so it’s a perfect bang for your buck alternative.

 

These budget-friendly alternatives will save you money and make your household a lot greener. Get one of these products today and begin your zero-waste journey.